Our Team

April 24, 2020

Mary Beth Moran, Director- Center for Healthier Communities

Mary Beth joined Rady Children’s Hospital in 2007 as the Manager of Injury Prevention Programs in the Center for Healthier Communities. This was an expansion of her career as a physical therapist in which she could serve a broader population with preventative, public health programs. Mary Beth practiced physical therapy for 25 years, and was founding faculty for a graduate Physical Therapy program in Arlington Virginia, during that time she also served to develop physical therapy programs in South Africa and Vietnam. This passion for educating future health care professionals in now embodied in the youth development programs at Rady Children’s Hospital. Mary Beth holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from Regis University, a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from New York University, a Master’s degree in Education from George Washington University and a Master of Science in Evaluative Clinical Sciences from Dartmouth College. She enjoys working with families from many cultures and has provided medical services and consultation internationally in South Africa, Vietnam, New Zealand and England.

Shelli Brown, MA LPC Youth Development Program Manager

Shelli Brown has been working with and for youth and families in a variety of settings for over twenty years. She recently moved back to the San Diego area after having lived out of state where she was able to grow her career, volunteer work and family. Currently, Ms. Brown serves as the Youth Development Program Manager at the Center for Healthier Communities, Rady Children’s Hospital- San Diego. Before moving back to her hometown, she lived in Denver, Colorado where she worked in youth violence prevention as the Project Director and the Community Site Manager for the Youth Violence Prevention Center-Denver (federally funded initiative through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). She also provided direct service to justice-involved youth as Licensed Professional Counselor at an adolescent drug treatment center and taught conflict and anger management skills at a non-profit organization. Ms. Brown’s interest in impacting young people and families took root in San Diego where she worked for the San Diego Unified School District as a teacher’s aide and counseling aide shortly after graduating from college.

Alexandra Ayala, Lead Coordinator, Medical Academy and FACES for the Future

Alexandra (Alex) Ayala is the Lead Coordinator for the Medical Academy and FACES for the Future programs through the RCHSD Center for Healthier Communities. Prior to her current position, Alex was a Program Coordinator for the FACES for the Future program for six years transitioning as a volunteer to Project Specialist to Program Coordinator. Alex received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Spanish from UCLA. She now is attending SDSU earning her Master’s degree in Social Work. Through her master’s program, Alex has interned with Instituto Madre Asunta in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, a shelter to provide assistance for women and children who have been displaced after deportation from the United States or are migrating, mainly from central Mexico. She also interned at UCSD- Senior Behavioral Health Inpatient Psychiatric Care providing assistance to those 60 years old and older who need the highest-level of specialized care.

Alicia Wood, Hoover High School Program Coordinator

Alicia Wood was born and raised in Seattle, WA but came to California in 2003 to attend Chapman University. She majored in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work. After college, Alicia worked at the Braille Institute in Anaheim running an after school program for blind and visually impaired children. After moving around Orange County and Long Beach for several years, she transferred to Braille Institute in San Diego where she worked until 2016. In June 2016, Alicia graduated from CSU Long Beach with her Master’s in Emergency Management and in June 2017, she got married and started working at Rady Children’s Hospital. She is currently working with the FACES for the Future students at Hoover High School as well volunteering with the Red Cross to expand her passion for helping others.”

Warren McBride, Crawford High School Program Coordinator

Warren has dedicated much of his life to developing and facilitating programs to benefit youth. During his 30 year career, he has served in the capacity of director, manager, coordinator and educator for programs that include, violence and injury prevention, wellness services, asthma education, tobacco cessation and fatherhood responsibility. He believes that one should never look for instant gratification while serving youth, but have the confidence of knowing your interventions will make a difference in the long term. Warren, who holds a fine arts degree from Northern Illinois University, is the Program Coordinator of FACES for the Future at Crawford H.S.

Warren previously worked with Rady Children’s Hospital (then known as San Diego Children’s Hospital) from 2002 to 2006 where he designed, managed and facilitated the San Diego chapter of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids and the Juvenile Hall Wellness Team, which still exists today.

Veronica Middlebrooks, Crawford High School Project Specialist

Veronica R. Middlebrooks is a Project Specialist for the FACES for the Future Program at Crawford High School. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology and completed a Certificate in Community Leadership and Public Service from Iowa State University. Veronica has studied Global Leadership and Women and Gender Studies at Södertörn University. She has previous experience in educating and mentoring youth, as well as leading professional development teams. Knowledgeable in management of healthcare systems and the role of ethics, prevention education, and health promotion within communities. Veronica is a dedicated to teaching and spreading holistic wellness.

A PROGRAM OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AT RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SAN DIEGO Copyright 2020

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